At Move Through Life we specialise in dance for adults in ballet, contemporary and jazz. Our range of classes cater to different levels and ages, so you’re sure to find something that will suit you.
When you can start
Terms
Our classes are run over a 48 week teaching year from mid January to mid December.
The 48 weeks are divided into four 12-week terms that run back-to-back without a break.
Intake of new students
New students are welcome to join within the first three weeks of each term.
Each term, the teacher will be teaching new work to the class, which is why we take new students only at the beginning of term. It can be a frustrating experience to join a class in the final weeks of term where everyone else knows the work and you don’t.
New terms start in January, April, July, and September.
Stay in the loop
If you’d like to be notified when our next intake opens, sign up to our mailing list. We send a newsletter every six weeks – mid term and end of term.
Get started (how to book)
1. Find the right class -> 2. Try it out -> 3. Choose a membership -> 4. Manage bookings
1. Find the right class
Have a look at our Timetable (below) to see what we have on offer
Read through our Levels to work out what level will suit you
If you need assistance choosing a level or style, get in touch with our Client Relationship Officer, Anne, on info@movethroughlife.com.au or 0408 240 772.
2. Try it out
Buy and book your class through our online booking system (powered by Zen Planner)
- Purchase either a single class, a ‘2 for 1’ pass, or a ‘7 days unlimited pass’
- Book your class (or classes depending what pass you buy)
Attend your class to see if it’s a good fit.
We’ll be in touch with you after that to see how you went (either after class with your teacher or we’ll follow up by phone or email)
3. Choose a membership
You can keep paying casually if you like, but our memberships are much better value, and super flexible (see membership terms and conditions)
Decide how many classes you’d like to usually do per week
- Silver – once a week
- Gold – twice a week
- Platinum – three times a week
- Diamond – unlimited classes
(don’t worry if you can’t always do that many classes a week – you have plenty of time to use up your classes, they don’t expire after a week)
Setup your membership, either:
- set it up online through Zen Planner
- fill in a membership form when you’re at the studio
- get in touch via email info@movethroughlife.com.au or phone 0408 240 772
4. Manage bookings
Booking is required for all classes.
You can book and cancel classes through Zen Planner, through:
- mobile app (download from the Apple Store or Google Play)
- website
- you can also book via the Timetable (below)
If you’d prefer, you can ask us to make a regular booking for you, so you just need to cancel if you can’t make it (you can book or cancel up to an hour before the class is due to start):
- If you fill out a membership form, you can ask for a regular booking on the form
- or you can email or phone us to request the booking
Note: if you cancel a booking at least an hour before the class is due to start, credit for the class will be returned to your account on Zen Planner so you can use it later. If you cancel later than that, or don’t cancel at all, you will forfeit the class.
Timetable
What if you can't find a class to suit you?
Option 1: Let us know what you're looking for
We review our timetable each term, so if there’s something you’re looking for that’s not currently on our timetable, let us know via email to info@movethroughlife.com.au. If there is enough interest we can add it into the schedule.
Option 2: See if one of our affiliate teachers has what you're looking for
Our affiliate teachers are independent teachers who run their own dance classes for adults, but who share the same values and philosophy as us. Namely, that all bodies can dance, that age is no barrier, and that dance is a fun and joyful experience that can be enjoyed by anyone.
They offer classes in different locations and at different times.
Dance Styles
Ballet
Build strength, grace, flexibility, discipline and confidence, while at the same time learning artistry, expression, musicality and developing appreciation for a classical art form.
Contemporary
Build a strong and supple physique and to develop a strong awareness of where your body is in space (kinaesthetic awareness)
Jazz
Develop a strong, agile body, sense of rhythm and learn to move with style.
Age range
We have two streams of classes related to age – regular and mature.
For some people, dancing with people their own age is important, as they feel more comfortable (dancing with younger people can be intimidating at times). But for others, age is not an issue, or they enjoy interacting with people of different ages.
We don’t have hard and fast rules around age. Someone under 50 is welcome to join a mature class if that’s more suitable for them. Someone over 50 may find that a regular class is more suitable for them.
Mature
We created our mature stream because most of the people attending our classes were under 40 years of age. We wanted to make sure that we offer something to adults of all ages. Introducing the mature stream has given a lot of people aged over 50 more confidence about starting a dance class.
The Mature classes are a bit more gentle. This doesn’t mean you won’t get a work out. It means there is less likely to be movements that can be more strenuous for older bodies, such as jumping, floor work, demi-pointe work, and turns.
Regular
All ages are welcome in our regular classes. Generally, people aged from early 20s to late 40s tend to choose the regular classes.
These classes are more fast paced, and do include jumps, turns, floor work, demi pointe work etc.
Dancers aged over 50 who have had a lot of previous dance experience or who are very fit tend to enjoy the regular classes.
Levels and progression
It can be challenging to find a dance class as an adult that is just at the right level. Too often, adults of various levels of experience are all put together in the same class which tries to ‘be suitable for all levels’. In reality, this can be a frustrating experience for beginners, who feel left behind, and more advanced dancers, who don’t get to really stretch themselves.
Syllabus
At Move Through Life, we have classes at a range of levels from absolute beginner to advanced
We use our own especially designed syllabus for each dance style to ensure that class is suitable for adults, and offers the opportunity for development and advancement for those who wish to do so.
Levels
Our classes are classified as either beginner, intermediate or advanced, and within these three broad categories are several sub-levels.
Visit the Finding the right level page to learn more about our levels, and experience recommended for each level)
Introductory courses
We offer 12 week introductory courses for complete beginners, which gives dancers an opportunity to learn the fundamentals with others who have also not danced before. It’s a great way to get started because you don’t have to worry about whether everyone else knows more than you, or whether you’ve got two left feet.
We don’t always have an intro course on offer, but we do generally run at least one each term (we run our classes in 12 week terms) and there is an online Introduction to Ballet course.
Progression
Group progression
We recognise that for adults, there may be only one time that they can get an hour to themselves for a dance class. For this reason, progression is built into each class, so the class all progress together. For example, a level 1 class in Term 1 would become a level 2.1 class in Term 2.
Individual progression
However, we recognise that people will progress at different rates, and so you can consult with your teacher about how to progress at your own pace, which will usually mean shifting to another class.
Assessment and exams
Many people want to undertake some kind of assessment so they can get feedback on their progress, have something to work towards, or to have a certificate to make their progress more official. We do offer the opportunity for assessment, both informal and in an exam format.
Introductory courses
One of the hardest things about starting dance as an adult is finding an adult beginner dance class that really does cater for complete beginners.
Have you ever gone to an adult beginner dance class, but discovered that everyone else there seems to already know what they are doing? Or that most of the people there are barely out of their teens?
Neither of these things will happen in our 12 week introductory course. Firstly, we really do have people in their mid-20s, 30s and 40s in our dance classes, as well as classes for more mature dancers.
We’ll start from the basics, and support you as you start to learn the basic movements, develop a sense of rhythm, understand dance terminology and conventions, and learn the key principles of your chosen dance style.
It’s a way for adults to learn dance that won’t make you feel self-conscious about your age, size, or lack of experience. Everyone else in the class will be in the same position as you, learning that dance style for the first time.
Your teacher will be a specialist in teaching dance to adults, which means you won’t be asked to do something that is harmful to your body, you won’t be expected to wear revealing clothes that make you uncomfortable, and you’ll be treated like an individual who has their own dreams, goals and aspirations.
At the end of the 12 weeks, you’ll never have to be afraid of being the only novice in that style of dance class again. You’ll be ready to step into one of our Level 2 dance classes, or you might like to have a go at a different dance style.
Teacher
Classes are taught by Jo McDonald, the founder of Move Through Life.
Jo is a welcoming and supportive teacher who loves to play a role in the joy that people experience when they dance. Having danced since the age of three, Jo did have a break from dance in her early twenties, and her subsequent return to dance gave her a keen appreciation for how difficult it can be for adults to find dance classes that suit them. As a result, she has dedicated her work to giving adults the opportunity to dance, whether that is taking class or performing. She is an advocate for the concept that if you dance, you have a dancer’s body, and that you are never to old to start, return to, or continue dancing.
Her classes are designed to be relaxed and fun, but to help dancers build their fitness, strength, and flexibility, and to continue to develop their skills and increase their repertoire of movement. She has developed her own ballet, jazz, and contemporary syllabi designed especially for adults, so that her dancers have the chance to continually develop and improve.
She has trained in RAD (Royal Academy of Dancing) and ISTD (International Society for Teachers of Dance) in ballet and modern theatre dance (which includes jazz and contemporary). She holds a Graduate Diploma of Creative Industries (Dance Teaching) from Queensland University of Technology, as well as a Bachelor of Science and Honours Psychology from the University of Adelaide, and a Certificate IV in Commercial Music (Performance).
As founder and Artistic Director of Move Through Life, Jo has extensive experience of teaching, choreographing, and producing dance.
Pricing
We have a membership model for pricing.
Of course, you’ll probably want to try out a class before signing up to a membership, so you can purchase a single class, or one of our introductory offers (‘2 for 1’ pass or ‘7 day unlimited pass’)
You can choose a membership package to suit how often you want to attend classes.
Make sure you read the Membership Terms & Conditions before your sign up.
Payments are automatically deducted every 4 weeks, via direct debit from your bank account or credit card (there is a 2.5% credit card surcharge). The minimum period for your membership is 12 weeks. After that you can:
- put it on hold by completing our online hold form
- cancel it by completing our online cancellation form
Security
Our booking system (Zen Planner) and payment processor (Ezidebit) have PCI (Payment Card Industry), SOC (Service Organisation Control, and HITRUST to ensure your card or account details are secure. Once your payment details are entered into our system, we are not able to see the details. In addition, if you do have any payment disputes, you are protected by Australian banking.
Concession
A 10% concession discount is available on all class purchases for those who hold a full time student, pensioner or seniors card. Send a copy of your card via email or SMS to 0408 240 772 and we will send you a coupon code to access the discount. Or if you sign up via the paper membership form, the person you submit your form to can sight your card so when we setup your membership, we will apply the discount.
Membership Packages
- Silver ($77) – 1 class per week ($19.25/class)
- Gold ($142) – 2 classes per week ($17.75/class)
- Platinum ($197) – 3 classes per week ($16.41/class)
- Diamond ($242) – unlimited classes (less than $15.13/class)
Prices include 10% GST, and are for payments made every 4 weeks (there are 12 payments in a calendar year, which corresponds to our 48 week teaching year. There is no payment during the 4 weeks when our studio is closed from mid December to mid January)
Number of ‘classes per week’ refers to how many times you’d usually attend per week, but you have the flexibility to attend more classes some weeks, and fewer classes in other weeks, to fit in with your schedule.
Casual class option is available at $25/class. The membership packages represent a discounted price, with the discount increasing for the higher level membership packages.
Reason for membership model
At the end of the day, we want to be able to provide you with classes for 48 weeks a year. There are always period when numbers drop, and if classes were paid casually, we’d have to cancel classes when numbers drop. The membership model means we can weather the troughs and keep our classes going all year.
Some people don’t like the idea of paying for a class if they miss a week here and there. We totally get that, which is why we’ve built lots of flexibility into our memberships, and discount the price per class for members (compared to our caual class option).
It provides stability in classes and payments so we can continue to offer classes each week, and not have to cancel classes if there are a few weeks where numbers are low. It also provides a simpler and more affordable price for our members. You can easily budget to pay a flat amount each month which is deducted automatically, so all you need to do is turn up to class and not worry about payment.
We do have a casual option, as we know some people are simply not able to attend class regularly, so casual payment are more cost effective. But for those who do attend regularly, membership is a more affordable option, and we’ve built in lots of flexibility so that you’re not losing money if you can’t make it to class for a week (or longer).
There is flexibility around when you use your classes. For example, you might be on a membership that gives you one class per week. If you miss a week, you can use that class another time instead, so when you are less busy and would like to dance more often, you can, usually without any additional payment.
Flexibility
Generally, most people attend a particular class each week. But just because you sign up a for a membership that gives you one class a week, it doesn’t mean you always have to attend that same class. If you miss a week, you can double up in another week.
We also issue all class credits at the beginning of your membership, so you can do extra classes before or after any period where you will have to miss classes, and you don’t have to worry about them expiring at the end of the week or month.
You can use your classes to attend any class you like, as long as it is suitable for your skill and fitness level.
When you are busy, you might not get to class as much, but when you have more free time, you can make the most of it and do more dance classes each week.
If you are interested in trying a different dance style, a makeup class is an opportunity to do so.
If you want to go up a level, you can use your unused class credits to try out classes at the higher level and continue classes at the existing level.
If you want to do extra classes at a particular time, you can do classes at the level down as well.
Duration
Our membership agreements have a minimum period of 12 weeks, but there is no lock-in after that.
If you’ll be away for one month or more, put your membership on hold (fill in our online hold request form)
If you’ll be away for less than one month, class credits stay on your account so you can use them another time within that month (although if you cannot use them within the month you can apply for an extension or early release of credits).
We have multiple classes each week, so you have the chance to make up any missed classes.
To cancel your membership, fill in our online membership cancellation form.